NEWSMAKER-Young Collahuasi leader force behind strike

* Head of national mining group seen as key strike player

* Critics say Arancibia's ambitions behind 13-day stoppage

By Alonso Soto and Fabian Cambero

SANTIAGO, Nov 17 A couple of months ago, Cristian
Arancibia, a trucker picked to head Chile's national mining union, walked
into government buildings and demanded to talk to officials about working
conditions in decrepit mines.

Flanked by three police officers filming his every move with a portable
camera, the portly 36-year-old told his audience that it was now time for
miners in the world's top copper producer to demand more.

Emboldened by a cave-in at an old mine that trapped 33 miners
underground and prompted President Sebastian Pinera to demand an overhaul
of safety regulations, Arancibia appeared to sense a political opening for
his own ambitions.

Thirteen days ago he pushed for a strike at the world's No. 3 copper
mine, Collahuasi, that shows no sign of ending, has pushed up prices and
could influence upcoming labor talks at Chilean mines that extract about
6.3 percent of the world's mined copper.

Sources on both sides of the dispute say the strike is dragging on
because of Arancibia's personal ambition to boost the standing of his
federation and gain more clout over legislation and regulation in mining
powerhouse.

Arancibia is seen longing for his group to clinch the same influence as
a separate labor federation that represents workers at state-owned Codelco,
the world's top copper producer. Codelco labor leaders can sway investment
decisions and regulatory debate in Congress, experts say.

The Collahuasi stoppage has pushed up global copper prices and could
influence upcoming labor talks at other Chilean mines which together
extract some 6.3 percent of the world's mined copper.

Arancibia's Mining Federation, an umbrella group that gathers 11,000
union workers who extract most of the country's copper, has flexed its
muscles in a show of strength not seen since a 26-day strike at the world's
biggest copper mine, Escondida, in 2006.

"Collahuasi is really worried that the political element behind the
strike could mean we're heading into a long strike," said an industry
specialist who met Collahuasi executives. "It makes it more unpredictable
no matter what you offer them."

The mine operator and the union on Wednesday geared up for a test of
strength as the mine seeks to entice strikers back to work and labor
leaders vow to stay put.

Arancibia -- seen as a clever strategist who enjoys great support among
workers-- denies that his ambitions are behind the strike.

"There are no politics behind the strike. This is about the workers,
not the union leaders or myself," Arancibia told Reuters. "This is simple
... the company makes hundreds of millions and we're asking for our fair
share."

Sources on both sides of the dispute said the union went into talks in
early November with plans to strike at Collahuasi no matter what the
operator offered as a way to raise the group's profile.

Collahuasi made a wage offer before talks went sour that government
officials and some union leaders at other mines called a "great" deal.

It remains unclear if the union and the operator are ready to sit down
and revive talks this week.

HARDLINER

Seen as a hardliner, Arancibia is the most vocal of union leaders,
usually heading marches and speaking to crowds about a "new age" in which
unions want a bigger say in the distribution of the country's copper
wealth.

Arancibia, who used to drive huge trucks hauling mineral inside the
deposit, is considered a media-savvy leader who rose to the top ranks for
his pledges to unite workers.

Escondida mine union leader Roberto Arraigada said the Collahuasi
workers' struggle has struck a chord with other miners, who are unhappy
about the use of non-unionized workers to maintain operations during the
strike.

"The company is resorting to replacement workers. I see a great need
for all union workers in this country to unite to change that legislation,"
Arraigada said.

Unlike neighboring Peru, also a mining powerhouse, unions at private
mines in Chile have never waged solidarity strikes to pressure companies.

However, more lengthy stoppages are seen as a latent risk for mining
companies operating in the country such as BHP Billiton (BLT.L) (BHP.AX)
and Xstrata XTA.L.

The operator's spokeswoman Bernardita Fernandez said management scours
at any political motivation during the strike that "hinders negotiations."
(Writing by Alonso Soto; Editing by Terry Wade)

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Dec 9 U.S. President-elect
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